Brinly PA-42BH-A Review: 42 in Tow-Behind Plug Aerator

The PA-42BH-A is best at core aerating large, uneven lawns behind a riding mower, especially before overseeding.

• True plugs. Spoons remove soil cores up to 3 inches, which is what relieves compaction; Brinly says its narrower, sharpened spoon design penetrates with less weight.
• Turf-friendly turns. Three independently rotating sections let the outside and inside of a turn move at different speeds, which limits tearing and keeps penetration more consistent on uneven ground.
• Weight for depth. A fully enclosed tray holds up to 175 lb of whatever weight you have: concrete blocks, sandbags or water jugs.
• Easy transport and storage. One lever lifts the tines onto 10 inch tires to cross driveways and walks, and the tow handle folds out of the way in the shed.
• Overseeding prep. Seed dropped after aerating lands in the holes; pair it with the grass seed calculator and how to overseed a lawn.

The biggest drawback is that tow-behind spoon aerators depend heavily on soil moisture and added weight, and neither comes in the box. On dry, hard clay the spoons ride high and pull shallow plugs or none at all, even with the tray loaded. Most lawn guidance is to aerate when soil is moist but not soggy, for example a day or two after rain or a deep watering, and to make two passes in different directions for good coverage.

The second drawback is that 175 lb of weight adds to your hitch load, so check the tractor's manual limit before loading the tray fully. A tow-behind unit also cannot match the depth and hole density of a rented engine-powered core aerator on severely compacted soil. And the listing does not state a warranty term.

These themes summarize published owner reviews of Brinly tow-behind plug aerators, not our own use.

Praise themes

• Sturdy all-steel construction compared with lighter tow aerators.
• Pulls real plugs in moist soil when properly weighted.
• Turning with the independent sections does less turf damage.
• Folding handle and transport lever make it easy to move and store.

Complaint themes

• Penetration is shallow in dry or clay soil.
• Finding and loading enough weight is a chore.
• Assembly takes time.
• Soil can pack into spoons in sticky, wet conditions.

Buy it if

• You own a lawn tractor or zero-turn and aerate half an acre or more each year.
• Your soil is compacted but you can aerate when it is moist.
• Your yard is uneven and you want independent tine sections.
• You plan to overseed after aerating.

Skip it if

• Your lawn is under a quarter acre or you only need to fix compacted paths; the Yard Butler ID-6C Manual Lawn Coring Aerator is a manual corer.
• You want a wider path; the Agri-Fab 48 in Tow-Behind Plug Aerator covers 48 inches with 32 self-sharpening knives.
• You want to seed in the same pass and accept shallower spikes; see the Brinly 40 in Tow-Behind Combination Aerator Spreader.
• Your soil is severely compacted clay; renting a powered core aerator may work better.

Warranty: the listing does not state warranty terms. Ask Brinly for the coverage on the frame and tines, and keep your receipt.

Certification: a ground-driven aerator has no engine or electrical parts, so emissions and electrical listings do not apply. The key limit is your tractor's hitch and towed load rating, including the weight you add to the tray.

Recalls: we cannot query the recall database for you, so check the CPSC recall database at cpsc.gov/Recalls for this model and its serial range before you buy, and again once a year after you own it. Register the product with the manufacturer so a recall notice reaches you directly.